Motherboard with multiple power supply selectivity

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a motherboard with multiple power selectivity. The components formed on the motherboard comprise a 20-pins ATX power male connector and 4-pins ATX power male connector. The 20-pins ATX power male connector is coupled electrically with devices and a CPU socket on the motherboard through circuits thereon. And the 4-pins ATX power male connector with four pins configured in line is applied to provide individually +12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts power. The 4-pins ATX power male connector is coupled electrically with said CPU socket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a motherboard of a desktop, andmore specifically, to a motherboard with multiple power supplyselectivity.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With the advance of electronic science and technology, themultimedia computers have high audio and video qualities. And theincreasing consumption of personal computer also drives the developmentsof computer industry more vigorous. For instance, Pentium 4, the fourthgeneration CPU manufactured by Intel, has more fine and complicatedinternal frame fabricated with the process of 0.13 micrometer to providepowerful computing funtions. However, with the structures of the CPUmore enormous and complicated, and the power consumption thereofincrease substantially. And it is a challenge to apply the prior powersupply configuring to provide sufficient power for driving the Pentium4.

[0003] Please refer to FIG. 1A, the motherboard applied to support thePentium 4 CPU is illustrated. The components configured on themotherboard comprise a socket 12 to mount the Pentium 4 CPU from IntelCorp. and a chipset 14 constituted with memory controller hub (MCH).Besides four sets of RIMM sockets 16 located on the motherboard areapplied to mount memory devices and an accelerated graphics port (AGP)18 is designed to mount a graphic card. And five sets of PCI ports 20are applied to install expansion cards.

[0004] It is noted that according to the motherboard specification priorto Pentium 4 CPU, only the ATX power supply male connector 22 withtwenty pins is configured on the motherboard 10 to provide the power fordriving various components thereon as shown in FIG. 1B. And only one pin(Pin 1) of the ATX power male connector 22 is applied to provide DCvoltage 12 volts for the CPU operating, as shown in FIG. 1B. As regardto the other pins thereof are applied to provide +5 or +3.3 volts DCpower or ground for driving the chips and devices on the motherboard 10.

[0005] However, abundant power is required to provide the CPU operatingin a stable state because the Pentium 4 CPU has the enormous core frameand higher executing frequency. For the purpose of preventing thecomputers from crashing frequently due to lack of power supply, a squaremale connector 24 is provided by Intel in the specification ofmotherboard for providing the Pentium 4 CPU an extra +12 volts powersupply. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, the square connector 24 has four pinsarranged squarely. Two pins (+12V DC) of the square connector 24 areapplied to provide +12 volts DC power supply and other two pins (GND)are applied to connect ground.

[0006] Because applying the above four pins to provide extra +12 voltsfor the Pentium 4 CPU, it is required to add a new connector of powersupply suitable to the specification of the Pentium 4. Please refer toFIG. 2, the power supply 30 supporting the motherboard of Pentium 4 isillustrated. The power supply 30 has four types of power lines. An ATXfemale connector 32 with twenty pins can connect with the 20-pins ATXmale connector 22 to provide power for the CPU and the chips on themotherboard 10. And a large 4-pins female connector 34, called 5.25inches drive connector (P7), is applied to connect and drive peripheraldevices such as hard disks and CD-ROM drives. As to a small 4-pinsfemale connector 36, called 3.5 inches drive connector (P9), is appliedto connect and drive the soft diskettes. Besides a square femaleconnector 38 with four pins is applied to connect with the square maleconnector 24 on the motherboard 10 to provide power for CPU operation.

[0007] However, for the present desktops, the ATX power supply onlyincludes the above 20-pins ATX female connector, the 5.25 inches drivefemale connector and the 3.5 inches drive female connector. Namely thereis no extra the square female connector suitable to the motherboard ofPentium 4. Thus when consumers want to upgrade their present desktopswith Pentium 4 motherboard and CPU, they have to pay much money to buythe new ATX power supply 30 with the extra square female connector 24for supporting the specification of the Pentium 4.

[0008] Therefore, how to provide sufficient power for the operation ofPentium 4 CPU based on the present ATX power supplys and housings is animportant issue. And for the consumer, they can still use their priorATX power supply to provide extra +12 volts DC power for supporting thePentium 4 motherboard and ensuring the reliability and stability ofoperations thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] One purpose of the present invention is to provide a motherboardwhich can support processors such as Pentium 4 and above for satisfyingthe prior ATX power supply.

[0010] Another purpose of the present invention is to provide amotherboard with multiple power supply connectors, thereby the prior ATXpower supply can be applied to provide the Pentium 4 CPU enough power.

[0011] The present invention provides a motherboard with multiple powersupply. The components formed on the motherboard comprise a 20-pins ATXpower male connector and a 4-pins ATX power male connector. The 20-pinsATX power male connector is coupled electrically with devices and a CPUsocket on the motherboard through circuits thereon. And the 4-pins ATXpower male connector with four pins configured in line is applied toprovide individually +12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts power. The 4-pinsATX power male connector is coupled electrically with said CPU socket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages ofthis invention will become more readily appreciated as the same becomesbetter understood by reference to the following detailed description,when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings:

[0013]FIG. 1A˜B are motherboard layouts illustrating the components andpower connectors thereon for supporting the Pentium 4 CPU fabricated byIntel;

[0014]FIG. 2 illustrating a power supply with extra square powerconnector for supporting the motherboard of Pentium 4;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a motherboard layout illustrating the motherboard with4-pins male connector satisfying the prior ATX power supply according tothe present invention; and

[0016]FIG. 4 illustrating the prior ATX power supply and the powerconnectors thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0017] The present invention discloses a motherboard satisfying Pentium4 CPU with multiple selectivity of power supply. A 5.25 inches driveconnector or a 3.5 inches drive connector for the prior ATX power supplyis defined on the motherboard to connect electrically with the CPUsocket through the circuits patterns thereon. Therefore, consumers canuse their present ATX power supply to provide the Pentium 4 CPU extra+12 volts DC power for preventing from computer crash due to the poweris lack. The detailed embodiments of the present invention are describedas follows.

[0018] Referring to FIG. 3, a motherboard with multiple power supplyselectivity provided in the present invention is shown. It is noted thatthe connections, specifications and functions of various devices aredescribed in detail in the embodiment below to render features andessentials of the components become distinct and easy to be understood.However the description of the embodiment should not to be applied tolimit the present invention. And it just illustrates one best embodimentaccording to the present invention.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, a motherboard 50 is provided to support thePentium 4 CPU and above processors fabricated by Intel. The componentsconfigured on the motherboard comprise a CPU socket 52 for the Pentium 4CPU and a chipset 54 constituted with memory controller hub (MCH)devices. In a preferred embodiment, when the CPU socket 52 is Socket423, the chipset 54 can be made of the Intel 850 chipset. And when theCPU socket 52 is Socket 478, the chipset 54 can be made of the Intel 845chipset.

[0020] Besides, three pieces of DIMM sockets 56 located on themotherboard 50 are designed to mount memory devices. Each DIMM socket 56has 168 pins and can be applied to mount the SDRAM devices. And anaccelerated graphics port (AGP) 58 applying for mounting a graphic cardis located on the motherboard 50. Further, six pieces of PCI ports 60are applied to install expansion cards. Similarly a parallel port 62, agame connect port 64, a serial port, a PS/2 connect port, an USB connectport, and etc. are defined on the edge of the motherboard 50. And twoIDE slots 66 and 68 are defined adjacent to the DIMM socket 56 toconnect the hard disk, CD-ROM device, and other peripheral devicesthrough bus lines. Besides, a FDD slot 70 is defined adjacent to the IDEslots 66, 68 to connect to the soft disk through bus lines.

[0021] In addition, a 20-pins ATX power male connector 72 is defined onthe motherboard 50 to provide the power for driving various componentsand the CPU device thereon. Notedly the ATX power male connector 72 isconnected with the CPU, chipsets, and devices on the motherboard 50through the circuit patterns thereon. And a first pin (Pin 1) of the ATXpower male connector 72 is applied to output +12 volts DC power tooperate the Pentium 4 CPU. Other pins are applied to provide +5 and +3.3volts (or +3 volts) power or to be ground for the purpose of operatingother chips and devices.

[0022] Besides, a square male connector 74 with four pins is defined onthe motherboard 50 to provide the Pentium 4 CPU sufficient poweraccording to specification of Intel. The square male connector 74 hasfour pins arranged squarely to input +12 volts DC power and to beground. Thus the computer can be operated in a stable state to preventthe computer from crashing.

[0023] However the square male connector 74 should be connected with thesquare female connector 38 with four pins of new power supply (as shownin FIG. 2) to providing sufficient power to drive the Pentium 4 CPU.Therefore in the present invention, an ATX power male connector 76 withfour pins configured squarely is defined on the motherboard 50.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the 4-pins ATX power male connector 76is located adjacent to the above 20-pins ATX power male connector 72,and specially the four pins thereof are arranged in a line toindividually provide +12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts power. And the4-pins ATX power male connector 76 is connected electrically to the CPUsocket through the circuits patterned on the motherboard 50 forproviding extra power to drive the Pentium 4 CPU.

[0025] Referring to FIG. 4, for example, the power connectors of theprior ATX power supply 80 includes 20-pins ATX power female connectors82, large 4-pins female connectors 84 which is called 5.25 inches driveconnectors, and small 4-pins female connectors 86 called 3.5 inchesdrive connectors. The 20-pins ATX power female connector 82 is appliedto connect with the 20-pins ATX power male connector 72 on motherboard50 to provide sufficient power for devices thereon. And the 5.25 and 3.5inches drive connectors 84 and 86 are applied to connect withperipherals of desktops to drive those devices. In general, the large4-pins female connectors 84 are applied to connect with the devices suchas hard disks, CD-ROMs, recorders and etc. And the small 4-pins femaleconnectors 86 are applied to connect with the soft disks to drive it.

[0026] Therefore when the 4-pins ATX power male connector 76 is made of5.25 inches or 3.5 inches drive connectors, the same 5.25 inches or 3.5inches drive connectors 84, 86 of the prior ATX power supply 80 can beplugged into the connector 76 to have electrical connection. And becausetwo types of 4-pins female connectors 84, 86 are both applied to provide+12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts power, the first pin of the femaleconnector 84 or 86 can be applied to provide the Pentium 4 CPU extra +12volts power.

[0027] Thus by fabricating the 4-pins 5.25 inches or 3.5 inches drivemale connectors on the motherboard 50, the consumers can use the 4-pins5.25 inches or 3.5 inches drive connectors 84, 86 of the prior ATX powersupply they have, to provide the Pentium 4 CPU extra +12 volts power.And there is no requirement to buy the new type power supply for Pentium4 specification.

[0028] As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the foregoingpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated of thepresent invention rather than limiting of the present invention. Forinstance the motherboard satisfying specification of Pentium 4 isillustrated in above embodiment, but actually the feature of the presentinvention is to fabricate 5.25 inches or 3.5 inches drive connectors ofprior ATX power supply on the motherboard for providing the newgeneration CPU (Pentium 4 and above) sufficient power and prolonging theusable life of the prior ATX power supply. It is intended to covervarious modifications and similar arrangements included within thespirit and scope of the appended claims, the scope of which should beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and similar structure.

[0029] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changescan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

We claim:
 1. A motherboard with multiple power supply selectivity,wherein components formed on said motherboard comprise: 20-pins ATXpower male connector, coupling electrically with devices and a CPUsocket on said motherboard through circuits thereon; and 4-pins ATXpower male connector with four pins configured in a line for providing+12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts power, coupling electrically with saidCPU socket through said circuits.
 2. The motherboard of claim 1, whereinfurther comprise a 4-pins square male connector formed on saidmotherboard with four pins configured squarely to provide individually+12 volts/ground/ground/+12 volts power.
 3. The motherboard of claim 1,wherein a first pin of said 4-pins ATX power male connector is appliedto input +12 volts DC power for operating a CPU device.
 4. Themotherboard of claim 3, wherein said 4-pins ATX power male connector canbe plug onto a 5.25 inches drive female connector of an ATX power supplyfor inputting extra +12 volts power for operating said CPU device. 5.The motherboard of claim 4, wherein said 5.25 inches drive femaleconnector can also be plug onto peripherals such as hard disks andCD-ROMs.
 6. The motherboard of claim 3, wherein said 4-pins ATX powermale connector can be plug onto a 3.5 inches drive female connector ofan ATX power supply for inputting extra +12 volts power for operatingsaid CPU device.
 7. The motherboard of claim 6, wherein said 3.5 inchesdrive female connector can also be plug onto peripherals such as softdisks.
 8. The motherboard of claim 1, wherein said 4-pins ATX power maleconnector is a 5.25 inches drive connector.
 9. The motherboard of claim1, wherein said 4-pins ATX power male connector is a 3.5 inches driveconnector.
 10. A motherboard satisfying Pentium 4 CPU devices and aboveprocessors has a 20-pins ATX power male connector and a 4-pins ATX powermale connector thereon, wherein a first pin of said 20-pins ATX powermale connector is applied to input 12 volts DC power for operating a CPUdevice, and said 4-pins ATX power male connector has four pinsconfigured in a line to output +12 volts/ground/ground/+5 volts powerfor providing said CPU device extra power.
 11. The motherboard of claim10, wherein a 5.25 inches drive female connector of an ATX power supplycan be plug onto said 4-pins ATX power male connector for inputtingextra +12 volts power for operating said CPU device.
 12. The motherboardof claim 11, wherein said 5.25 inches drive female connector can also beplug onto peripherals such as hard disks and CD-ROMs.
 13. Themotherboard of claim 10, wherein a 3.5 inches drive female connector ofan ATX power supply can be plug onto said 4-pins ATX power maleconnector for inputting extra +12 volts power for operating said CPUdevice.
 14. The motherboard of claim 13, wherein said 3.5 inches drivefemale connector can also be plug onto peripherals such as soft disks.15. The motherboard of claim 10, wherein said 4-pins ATX power maleconnector is a 5.25 inches drive connector.
 16. The motherboard of claim10, wherein said 4-pins ATX power male connector is a 3.5 inches driveconnector.
 17. A motherboard supporting Pentium 4 CPU devices and aboveprocessors has a 5.25 inches drive male connector formed thereon,wherein said 5.25 inches drive male connector has four pins configuredin a line connecting with a CPU socket through circuits on saidmotherboard; wherein said 5.25 inches drive male connector can beconnected with a 5.25 inches drive female connector of an ATX powersupply to providing said CPU device 12 volts power.
 18. The motherboardof claim 17, wherein said 5.25 inches drive female connector can also beplug onto peripherals such as hard disks and CD-ROMs.